What? A woman can’t have dinner with a few friends without ending up on a New York tabloid gossip page? Not if you’re Hillary Clinton.

Here are the first few paragraphs:

IT sure looked likeHillary Rodham Clinton was plotting her political future at a secret ladies-only dinner in Washington the other night.

The New York senator was guest of honor at Tuesday’s hush-hush powwow that raised speculation about a possible White House run in 2012. The gathering was hosted by California Sen. Dianne Feinstein and attended by Ellen Malcolm, founder of Emily’s List, which supports pro-choice, female Dems; Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.), chair of the New Democrat Coalition; and Hilary Rosen, former Recording Industry Association of America CEO, who’s now political director of the Huffington Post.

A source tells Page Six they all met for dinner at Charlie Palmer Steak, a chophouse noted for its cellar of 10,000 bottles of wine and spectacular views of the Capitol.

How come every time you mention McNerney you also mention Dean Andal and yet whenever you mention Tauscher, you forget her opponent; Nicholas Gerber?

While she was eating steaks and scheming. I was at the Moraga Commons enjoying a free consert in the park with my kids. We had leftover lasagna.

Lisa Vorderbrueggen

Jerry McNerney and Dean Andal are in a highly competitive race monitored by almost every national political analyst in the country.

With all due respect to your sincere endeavors, Mr. Gerber, you are not in a comparable race.

As a general rule, I do not mention the opponents of sitting members of Congress in districts where they hold a virtual certainty of being re-elected. It’s your job to become a viable candidate; it’s not mine to make you one nor do I have the power to do so.

Lisa Vorderbrueggen

Jerry McNerney and Dean Andal are in a highly competitive race monitored by almost every national political analyst in the country.

With all due respect to your sincere endeavors, Mr. Gerber, you are not in a comparable race.

As a general rule, I do not mention the opponents of sitting members of Congress in districts where they hold a virtual certainty of being re-elected. It’s your job to become a viable candidate; it’s not mine to make you one nor do I have the power to do so.

RR

OPEN LETTER TO NICK GERBER
You seem like a decent, intelligent chap. Why not run for a seat in Sacramento, get some exposure and pick up a few pointers. You’re aiming at the stars; start a little closer to earth.

RR

OPEN LETTER TO NICK GERBER
You seem like a decent, intelligent chap. Why not run for a seat in Sacramento, get some exposure and pick up a few pointers. You’re aiming at the stars; start a little closer to earth.

ted ford

Gerber’s the nominee of the Republican Party. That ought to count for something. Why should Tauscher get a free pass?

ted ford

Gerber’s the nominee of the Republican Party. That ought to count for something. Why should Tauscher get a free pass?

Lisa Vorderbrueggen

I’m not giving Tauscher a free anything. It’s not in my power to grant free passes. Voters make these decisions, not newspaper reporters.

What I’m saying is that I’m not going to pretend that Gerber is running for this seat on equal footing with Tauscher. He’s vastly underfunded. His party is paying almost no attention to this race and neither is almost anyone else. To suggest otherwise is to ignore reality.

On a more pragmatic note, I don’t have time. In an ideal world where I had a vast stable of political reporters at my command, we might be able to devote substantial resources to every single person who gets on the ballot. But that’s not reality, either. As my father often said to me when I complained of an injustice, “Life is not fair.”

Lisa Vorderbrueggen

I’m not giving Tauscher a free anything. It’s not in my power to grant free passes. Voters make these decisions, not newspaper reporters.

What I’m saying is that I’m not going to pretend that Gerber is running for this seat on equal footing with Tauscher. He’s vastly underfunded. His party is paying almost no attention to this race and neither is almost anyone else. To suggest otherwise is to ignore reality.

On a more pragmatic note, I don’t have time. In an ideal world where I had a vast stable of political reporters at my command, we might be able to devote substantial resources to every single person who gets on the ballot. But that’s not reality, either. As my father often said to me when I complained of an injustice, “Life is not fair.”

Ted is right! You’re okay for a Democrat Ted… even though I disagree with you on REAL ID and a few other issues.

Tauscher shouldn’t get a free pass! Don’t most of the reasonable voters out there find themselves irritated with how things currently are going in this country? Shouldn’t Incumbents share in some of the blame come election time? Don’t the people deserve to make their own choice? I don’t think the Media should be able to choose what races are worth paying attention to.

Gerber should get some recognition from time to time. That could be good press or bad press though. For instance, Lisa might mention that Gerber is questionable on 2nd Amendment issues, which may conflict with the official Republican Platform and the conservative base he needs to rally to be competitive. I’m also trying to get a feel for your “illegal immigration” position Mr. Gerber? I’d like to think that you would offer a polar-opposite choice for the voters compared to that of Tauscher on these two very important issues. (Respond if you’d like Mr. Gerber…I would like to hear what you have to say…)

Ted is right! You’re okay for a Democrat Ted… even though I disagree with you on REAL ID and a few other issues.

Tauscher shouldn’t get a free pass! Don’t most of the reasonable voters out there find themselves irritated with how things currently are going in this country? Shouldn’t Incumbents share in some of the blame come election time? Don’t the people deserve to make their own choice? I don’t think the Media should be able to choose what races are worth paying attention to.

Gerber should get some recognition from time to time. That could be good press or bad press though. For instance, Lisa might mention that Gerber is questionable on 2nd Amendment issues, which may conflict with the official Republican Platform and the conservative base he needs to rally to be competitive. I’m also trying to get a feel for your “illegal immigration” position Mr. Gerber? I’d like to think that you would offer a polar-opposite choice for the voters compared to that of Tauscher on these two very important issues. (Respond if you’d like Mr. Gerber…I would like to hear what you have to say…)

bernie quigley

Why is how much money a candidate raised the measure of legitimacy of a candidate’s campaign. Maybe Gerber has some interesting and innovative ideas. Isn’t it the function of the journalist to illuminate the political dialog and help the public evaluate and digest the differing views of the candidates? I would like to know what Gerber is all about. We know about Tauscher already.

bernie quigley

Why is how much money a candidate raised the measure of legitimacy of a candidate’s campaign. Maybe Gerber has some interesting and innovative ideas. Isn’t it the function of the journalist to illuminate the political dialog and help the public evaluate and digest the differing views of the candidates? I would like to know what Gerber is all about. We know about Tauscher already.

RR

Hey Nick! How about promising free college tuition for 1 year to every CC high school grad? John Edwards tried that one.

RR

Hey Nick! How about promising free college tuition for 1 year to every CC high school grad? John Edwards tried that one.

I agree (somewhat) with Lisa. Fairs are for pigs who want blue ribbons. On the other hand, how hard or time consuming is it for her to add “vs. her opponent Nick Gerber” to her articles about Tauscher?

Every two years, the people get to decide who will represent them in Congress. It is not a decision we should take lightly or that newspapers should forget about reporting on, no matter how lopsided an election may be.

As far as my positions on:

• 2nd Amendment issues. I am VERY happy the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of individual ownership vs. State ownership of guns. I believe that if you want a gun you should be able to own one. Having said that. I do not want a gun. Don’t like them.

• On “illegal immigration”. Illegal immigration is illegal. It should be stopped and those found helping it by transporting illegals or employing them should be fined and put in jail. While being hard on illegal immigration, we should also extend an open hand and expand our legal immigration policies. America is a land of immigrants who bring strength and diversity to the land. We should remember this and embrace it.

• On “free college tuition for 1 year to every CC high school grad”. An interesting idea and one we should entertain. If college is required to compete on a global scale these days, why stop free education at high school?

I agree (somewhat) with Lisa. Fairs are for pigs who want blue ribbons. On the other hand, how hard or time consuming is it for her to add “vs. her opponent Nick Gerber” to her articles about Tauscher?

Every two years, the people get to decide who will represent them in Congress. It is not a decision we should take lightly or that newspapers should forget about reporting on, no matter how lopsided an election may be.

As far as my positions on:

• 2nd Amendment issues. I am VERY happy the Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of individual ownership vs. State ownership of guns. I believe that if you want a gun you should be able to own one. Having said that. I do not want a gun. Don’t like them.

• On “illegal immigration”. Illegal immigration is illegal. It should be stopped and those found helping it by transporting illegals or employing them should be fined and put in jail. While being hard on illegal immigration, we should also extend an open hand and expand our legal immigration policies. America is a land of immigrants who bring strength and diversity to the land. We should remember this and embrace it.

• On “free college tuition for 1 year to every CC high school grad”. An interesting idea and one we should entertain. If college is required to compete on a global scale these days, why stop free education at high school?

bernie quigley

Nick, I think your race rates at least as high as “Captain Kirk”, “treadmills” and other recent posts on this website. There are lots of longshot candidates. Sometimes they win. Remember Eliot Spitzer. Maybe Elaine will be found with a male Bimbo in Tijuana or something. As Tauscher’s friend Hilary said a few months ago “you never know, look what happened to Bobby Kennedy”.

bernie quigley

Nick, I think your race rates at least as high as “Captain Kirk”, “treadmills” and other recent posts on this website. There are lots of longshot candidates. Sometimes they win. Remember Eliot Spitzer. Maybe Elaine will be found with a male Bimbo in Tijuana or something. As Tauscher’s friend Hilary said a few months ago “you never know, look what happened to Bobby Kennedy”.

RR

CC Republicans have an enviable record: They would rather be right than electable. The only voters local Repubs are in touch with are each other, and not always then.

RR

CC Republicans have an enviable record: They would rather be right than electable. The only voters local Repubs are in touch with are each other, and not always then.

Renegade GOP

Nick,
Get a life. I told you months ago you are on a suicide mission running against Taucher. You have no chance of winning! None at all! As I told you at candidate night months ago you need to start having fun with the campaign because it i a lost cause. I believe there was an interesting fellow who told you to go out and recruit the “Gerber girls” to follow you around while campaigning. A guy like you with no hope needs to loosen up and get something that will make your losing effort exciting and memorable. Otherwise you will be part of the long list of CC GOP losers who run in races they have no hope of winning.

It is time to get loose Nick!!1 Then Lisa may notice you more!!!! You might get a chance to do something else!!

Renegade GOP

Nick,
Get a life. I told you months ago you are on a suicide mission running against Taucher. You have no chance of winning! None at all! As I told you at candidate night months ago you need to start having fun with the campaign because it i a lost cause. I believe there was an interesting fellow who told you to go out and recruit the “Gerber girls” to follow you around while campaigning. A guy like you with no hope needs to loosen up and get something that will make your losing effort exciting and memorable. Otherwise you will be part of the long list of CC GOP losers who run in races they have no hope of winning.

It is time to get loose Nick!!1 Then Lisa may notice you more!!!! You might get a chance to do something else!!

bernie quigley

I’m astonished that this blog which purports to be about politics has absolutely nothing on the budget impasse and the tax increase proposal. So I’ll put my comment on this thread rather than the Captain Kirk one. ( or should we just stick to tea with Hillary and Elaine. )

As for the sales tax increase, the Republicans will never go for it. They are going to have to go to the mat on this, to quote Don Perata. The serious reforms have to come first. The vast majority of the voters are with the Republicans on this one. No tax increases without serious budget reform

bernie quigley

I’m astonished that this blog which purports to be about politics has absolutely nothing on the budget impasse and the tax increase proposal. So I’ll put my comment on this thread rather than the Captain Kirk one. ( or should we just stick to tea with Hillary and Elaine. )

As for the sales tax increase, the Republicans will never go for it. They are going to have to go to the mat on this, to quote Don Perata. The serious reforms have to come first. The vast majority of the voters are with the Republicans on this one. No tax increases without serious budget reform

RR

If the vast majority of Californios hated taxes so much, why are our taxes so high? Why doesn’t the GOP have more seats in Sacramento? Who was the last Repub. speaker? Was it Hiram Johnson?

RR

If the vast majority of Californios hated taxes so much, why are our taxes so high? Why doesn’t the GOP have more seats in Sacramento? Who was the last Repub. speaker? Was it Hiram Johnson?

Renegade GOP

Th only time the state GOP is relevant is at budget time. When the State GOP in Sacramento sold out for safe districts in 2001 they saved their jobs for perminant minority status. As a good friend of mine once told me California is France.

Renegade GOP

Th only time the state GOP is relevant is at budget time. When the State GOP in Sacramento sold out for safe districts in 2001 they saved their jobs for perminant minority status. As a good friend of mine once told me California is France.